A conservation team at the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate will discover tonight if they are winners in the annual Georgian Group Architectural Awards - following the restoration of Wimpole’s historic Gothic Tower.

The winners are due to be announced by Loyd Grossman at a ceremony held at the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The Georgian Group’s Architectural Awards recognise exemplary conservation and restoration projects in the UK, and reward those who have shown the vision and commitment to restore Georgian buildings and designed landscapes.

The Folly at Wimpole Estate, south-west of the city of Cambridge, has stood for more than 250 years as an eye-catching part of the local landscape.

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Paul Coleman, National Trust Project Manager said: “We have truly made a difference to the building to safeguard its future and reinstate the missing crown of stonework.

“However, most importantly for the first time in many years visitors have been able to get close to the Folly, explore the areas around it and see the magnificent views across the estate, particularly this part of the ‘Capability’ Brown landscape at Wimpole.”

The Gothic Tower is a Grade II building designed to resemble the ruins of a medieval castle.

It is widely considered to be the finest folly in Cambridgeshire, and one of the most beautiful 18th century ruins in the country.

Originally designed by Sanderson Miller, the 18th century’s finest folly architect, it was built by James Essex and supervised by world-famous landscape gardener Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in 1769.

The ruins of the Gothic Tower at Wimpole were conserved following part funding from Natural England as part of an Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement, Natural England is supporting wildlife conservation work and parkland restoration work on the Wimpole Estate.

A spokeswoman for Natural England said: “We are delighted to be able to support the wide range of natural environment and heritage works that is underway at the Wimpole Estate.

“This is a unique opportunity to ensure that this important and historic building and its parkland landscape is enhanced to benefit people and wildlife into the future.”